Contingencies - Tronox Litigation (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual at carrying value, increase (decrease) in the period			$ (250,000,000)
Tronox Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages sought, including interest			18,900,000,000
Loss contingency accrual at carrying value, increase (decrease) in the period	(525,000,000)	275,000,000
Loss contingency accrual at carrying value	0	525,000,000	0
Range of possible loss, minimum	0		0
Range of possible loss, maximum	1,400,000,000		1,400,000,000
Tronox Litigation [Member] \| Principal Portion of Maximum Loss Range [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Range of possible loss, maximum	$ 985,000,000		$ 985,000,000

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section 50

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-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 11

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References+ Details